For medical devices that fall into class I, the conformity assessment does not involve a notified body. For all other classes (I*, IIa, IIb, III) a notified body must be involved. The number of the notified body appears on the CE-mark.

Overview on Conformity Assessment Procedures

For medical devices that fall in class I, manufacturers declare the conformity and affix the CE-mark as described in Annexes IV and V.

For products that fall in higher classes either a full quality management system (compliant with ISO 13485 respectively Annex IX) is required, or the manufacturers have to follow Annex XI.

Annex IX offers to alternatives:

Part A describes how a notified body has to verify the conformity of each single instance.

Part B describe the demands on a quality management system for the production.

For class IIb and III devices also a type examination is necessary as described in Annex X (if not Annex IX is followed). This type examination means that the manufacturer develops a medical product. Before producing and selling the product the notified body verifies the conformity of this device with the "general safety and performance requirements".

The Annexes of MDD and MDR roughly correspond like follows:

MDR

MDD

Annex IX

Annex II

Annex X

Annex III

Annex II

Annex VII

Annex XI part A

Annex IV

Annex XI part B

Annex V

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Annex VI

Special Procedures

For high-risk products special procedures have to be applied. These special procedures include a scrutiny by an expert panel.

Example for high-risk products are:

active implantable products

devices containing medicinal products

devices containing tissue from human or animal origin

"devices that are composed of substances or of combinations of substances that are intended to be introduced into the human body"

The expert panel has to judge whether the clinical evaluation report is sufficient to provide confidence in the safety and performance of the device and whether an additional scientific assessment report (by the expert panel) is required.